Portland's Airports: A Comprehensive Guide To Air Travel

Portland, Oregon, has 11 airports, both public and private. The largest airport in the state is Portland International Airport (PDX), which is owned and operated by the Port of Portland. The airport is located within the city limits, just south of the Columbia River in Multnomah County. It is a joint civil-military airport, accounting for 90% of Oregon's passenger air travel and more than 95% of its air cargo. The airport has direct flights to cities throughout the United States and several other countries, including Canada, Mexico, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Iceland.

Portland International Airport (PDX)

The airport has one passenger terminal, composed of four concourses (B, C, D, and E), with a total of 60 gates. The international section of Concourse D was renamed the Governor Victor G. Atiyeh International Concourse to honour the former Oregon governor, who launched international tourism and trade initiatives during his gubernatorial term. The airport covers 3,000 acres (1,214 ha) of land.

Portland International Airport has direct flights to cities throughout the United States and several other countries, including Canada, Mexico, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Iceland. The airport is a hub for Alaska Airlines, which has its own concourse, and also has a maintenance facility for its subsidiary Horizon Air. General aviation services are provided by Atlantic Aviation.

Local transportation to and from the airport includes the MAX Red Line light rail, which takes passengers between PDX and downtown Portland in approximately 38 minutes, and farther west to Beaverton. The airport also has a station on its lower level, with the Red Line stopping at all stations between the Gateway/NE 99th Transit Center and the Rose Quarter Transit Center. From the latter, passengers can transfer to the Green Line, which goes to Union Station. The airport also offers easy connections to downtown, free Wi-Fi, local food and drink, and tax-free shopping.

Getting to and from the airport

Portland International Airport (PDX) is the largest airport in the US state of Oregon, accounting for 90% of the state's passenger air travel. It is within Portland's city limits, just south of the Columbia River in Multnomah County. The airport is 6 miles (10 km) by air and 12 miles (19 km) by highway from downtown Portland.

The MAX Light Rail is the most popular way to get to and from the airport. The Red Line takes riders from the airport to downtown in approximately 38 minutes. The airport has a station on its lower level, near the TriMet MAX Red Line station. The Red Line originally provided service as far as downtown Portland only, but in 2003 it was extended west to Beaverton.

Other options for getting to and from the airport include taxicabs, ride-share services, and shuttles. The average taxi fare from the airport to downtown Portland as of 2023 is about $50 before gratuity, and the trip takes 20-40 minutes. Uber and Lyft both offer drop-off and pick-up services at Portland International Airport, with fares depending on factors such as distance, time, base rate, and vehicle option.

Many airport hotels offer free shuttle services. These can be found at the bottom entrance of the terminal outside the baggage claim area.

If you’re trying to get to the PDX airport from outside of Portland, you can connect to Portland’s Trimet system through other transit agencies or hire an Oregon shuttle service.

Local attractions and amenities

Portland, Oregon, is served by Portland International Airport (PDX), which is owned and operated by the Port of Portland. The airport is located in the heart of the city, which is known for its natural beauty, cultural landmarks, and family-friendly attractions.

Portland is a vibrant and eclectic city, offering a wide range of attractions and amenities for visitors and locals alike. Here is a curated list of some of the top places to visit and things to do in Portland:

Parks and Gardens

• Washington Park: This park is widely considered one of the best in Portland, boasting a variety of notable landscaping features. It is home to the Portland Japanese Garden, the International Rose Test Garden, the World Forestry Center, and the Hoyt Arboretum. It also offers family-friendly attractions, leisure paths, flower displays, and fountains.
• Portland Japanese Garden: Located in Northwest Portland, this garden spans 12 acres of botanical gardens inspired by Japanese flora and fauna. It offers year-round serenity, with seasonal attractions like the Cultural Village and the Umami Cafe.
• Lan Su Chinese Garden: An authentic and creative wonder, this garden is based on a 2,000-year-old Chinese tradition, seamlessly blending art, architecture, design, and nature.
• International Rose Test Garden: This garden showcases Portland's reputation as the "City of Roses", with miles of trails and extensive rose gardens.

Museums and Cultural Landmarks

• Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI): OMSI is a nationally renowned science centre, offering exhibits and educational programs focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
• Portland Art Museum: As the oldest art museum in the Northwest, this museum is a cultural landmark offering artistic insights and exhibitions.
• Powell's City of Books: This bookstore is the world's largest new and used bookstore, offering a vast selection of literary treasures.

Family-Friendly Attractions

• Oregon Zoo: Located just minutes from the city centre, the Oregon Zoo is a hub for science, conservation, and animal welfare, housing over 165 species and subspecies.
• Portland Children's Museum: A dedicated space for children to explore and learn, located within Washington Park.
• Pittock Mansion: This unique home, built in 1914, showcases modern architecture and technology from the early 20th century.

Festivals and Events

• Portland's festival calendar is packed with celebrations of craft beer, music, contemporary art, and culinary delights, especially during the summer months.
• Portland Saturday Market: Open every weekend from March to December, this market is the largest arts-and-crafts fair in the United States.

Shopping and Dining

• Hawthorne Boulevard: This walkable street in Southeast Portland's bohemian district offers vintage shops, boutiques, cafes, and historic venues.
• Downtown Portland: The Portland Visitor Centre provides information on recommended restaurants, attractions, and events, along with maps and brochures.

History of the airport

Portland International Airport (PDX) is the largest airport in the US state of Oregon, serving 90% of the state's passenger air travel and over 95% of its air cargo. The airport is owned and operated by the Port of Portland and is located within the city limits, just south of the Columbia River in Multnomah County.

The history of Portland's airport began with the private field of Dr. Clifford "Kip" Strange, a native of Portland, Maine, who created a space on his extensive Portland land for his plane in the late 1920s. Soon, other flyers were attracted to the couple of grass runways on his land. In 1934, Boston & Maine Airways inaugurated airline service at the facility, which had moved from Scarborough. The City of Portland bought the airfield in 1936 and built a third runway. During this time, colourful characters performed in air shows and unauthorised dogfights. In 1940, the Works Progress Administration built the city's first real terminal, a brick structure that is now the general aviation terminal.

In 1926, the Port of Portland purchased 256 acres of land for the construction of the city's first airport, Swan Island Municipal Airport, located northwest of downtown Portland on the Willamette River. The new airfield was dedicated by Charles Lindbergh in 1927. However, by 1935, it became apparent that the airport was becoming obsolete. By 1941, two runways capable of serving modern aircraft were operational at the new location. The airport was designated "Portland–Columbia Airport" to distinguish it from the Swan Island Airport.

During World War II, the Portland–Columbia Airport was used by the United States Army Air Forces and closed to most civilian traffic. The Portland Army Air Base officially activated on 19 April 1941, though the runways were not completed until later. The airfield was also used by the Civil Air Patrol to search coastal waters for enemy submarines. In 1948, the entire airport grounds were flooded during the Vanport Flood, forcing airline services to reroute to the nearby Troutdale Airport.

In 1952, a new terminal and a longer, 8,800-foot east-west runway were constructed. The present main runway of the Portland International Jetport was built in 1957 and lengthened in 1966. The current terminal building opened in 1968 with the arrival of jet aircraft and has been expanded multiple times since. In 1972, Northeast Airlines, the Jetport's commercial mainstay, was bought by Delta Airlines, which remains one of the major carriers. The airport continued to experience strong growth and became the fastest-growing airport in New England, with recent expansions including a new five-story parking garage.

Other airports in Portland, Oregon

Portland International Airport (PDX) is the only airport within Portland, Oregon's city limits. However, there are several other airports in and around the city of Portland, Oregon. These include smaller local airports and major airports offering domestic and international flights.

Portland-Troutdale Airport

Located just 14 miles from Portland, Troutdale Airport is a convenient option for those travelling to or from the city.

Portland-Hillsboro Airport

This airport is situated 30 miles from Portland in the nearby city of Hillsboro, Oregon.

Eugene Airport

Eugene Airport is a major airport located 128 miles from Portland International Airport. It offers domestic flights from Eugene, Oregon.

Roberts Field

Roberts Field is another major airport, situated 145 miles from Portland. It provides domestic flights from Redmond, Oregon.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

At a distance of 165 miles from Portland, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport serves as a hub for both international and domestic flights to and from Seattle, Washington.

In addition to these airports, there are several other smaller airfields and local airports in the Portland, Oregon area. Portland's first airport was the Swan Island Municipal Airport, located northwest of downtown Portland on the Willamette River. While no longer in operation, it played a role in the city's aviation history.

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